In Mary Oliver’s, “The Journey,” the theme of persistence is repeated throughout the poem. Mary Oliver uses language and symbolism to repeat this theme to the reader. The language uses words that connotatively bring out feelings of persistence in the character that Mary Oliver references. Symbolism ties into these words used to illustrate deep feelings based on the situations represented in the scenes. Not only is the theme of persistence repeated but the repetition of phrases in which the speaker refers to the reader as, “you” is a tactic used to help reinforce this theme by making a personal connection with the reader.

The start of this poem is extremely important to the depiction of persistence, Mary Oliver wrote, “One day you finally knew / What you had to do, and began” (1-2). Now one might say that beginning is not an example of persistence and in some way he may be right. What that person has forgotten is that persistence cannot exist without a beginning. Mary Oliver specifically uses the comma to signify a pause and emphasize the beginning. This is because the beginning is the only reason that someone can achieve persistence in any way. In a manner of speaking this line is one of the most important lines in the poem. Not only does the line establish a beginning but it is the first and second occurrence of the speaker referring to the reader directly. Mary Oliver uses the word “you” in the two opening lines of the poem and this is the establishment of a reoccurring word. A word that repeats throughout the poem to help establish a hook that ties into the reader’s connection with their interpretation of the poem.

The next lines show persistence through the use of language, “Though the voices around you / kept shouting / their bad advice-” (3-5). Notice that “kept shouting” is given its own line, although it is only a two-word phrase. This is done to emphasize the desperate persistence of the voices in the text. Voices can represent ideas, influences, and judgements that are laden into the framework of a person’s character. These voices represent the bad advice of people in the reader’s life.  It is not a mere coincidence that the author uses these illustrations, but it is a specific deliverance. This abstract usage of placement and separation of text is an inventive way for Mary Oliver to develop the theme of persistence.

The next example is fairly straight forward, “but you didn’t stop” (line 12). This is the first continuation the speaker makes after the beginning of what he had to do. After this reoccurrence the speaker keeps pressing on in their endeavor and maintains a persistent position. Notice that the speaker uses the word “you” in this phrase. The use of the word “you” is used to help reinforce feelings of personal recognition to the reader. This is why the theme of persistence is so easy to recognize in the text, because Mary Oliver clearly sets apart the words in the text that exemplify persistence.

Mary Oliver uses the voice of the speaker and the content of his speech to convey a personal recognition of the reader. The word “you” is used twelve times in the poem and the word “your” is used twice. The poem is only thirty-six lines long and the word “you” is used twelve times. An emphasis through this word can be seen and is used to directly reference the speaker. Mary Oliver’s goal is to make the reader feel like the poem is directed at them as an individual and have a feeling of empowerment. By reaching out to the reader on a personal level, it allows the speaker to have a more intimate connection with the reader. This will hook the reader and in turn the persistence ties in by reinforcing the idea of addressing the reader specifically. Another goal of the persistent use of “you” is empowerment through direct addressment of the reader. Most people would agree that a literary work that subjectively speaks to the reader leaves a bigger impression then a work directed at the general population. Also, poetry is a genre that conveys feeling, inspires people and allows writers to vent. Mary Oliver is trying to galvanize the reader by repeatedly referring to them and acknowledging their accomplishments in their journey through life.

The final example of persistence in the text is a lengthy explanation of the character moving on in life in lines 13-36. Mary Oliver uses examples of branches in roads and continuation to further build on this theme of persistence. These branches are a symbol in the text that ties into the reader’s journey down a path in life. First there is a pathway that the reader is traversing and second the path has branches that the reader has to totter through. What do these symbols represent? The pathway represents the chosen path of the reader in life and the branches represent “stumbling blocks” that cause hardships in the reader’s daily routine. Persistence relies on the fact that the reader is persevering through a time where he encounters a multitude of hardships. Thus the reader must continue through these obstacles. The theme of persistence has a strong connotative meaning, which attributes to why the author has stressed this theme throughout the poem. In the poem’s multiple applications, the use of language and symbolism is used to repeatedly reinforce the theme of persistence through examples of walking down paths little by little, to continuing on and on. Mary Oliver has chosen excellent deliverance through these multiple examples from her poem. Persistence is key and repetition is the chosen way to deliver, she knew what she had to do, and she began.